Hard Worker Gets Auction Moving

August 20, 1985|By Ed Hayes of the Sentinel Staff

Saturday's PESO auction is an important event for Central Florida, and during an interview the other day, Tony Lupo wanted to talk about it. But Lupo has so many interesting things to say that I let him get in only a few words about the auction.

From 1970 to 1975, Lupo's Fidelity Moving & Storage business was No. 3 in sales nationwide. ''But we were always the best,'' he said.

He's 65 years old now and semi-retired. He works two hours or so every morning as an adviser to A-1 Dahill Moving & Storage, the company to which he sold his business on Dec. 31, 1982.

''The big thing about the PESO auction,'' said Lupo, PESO's vice president for gifts, ''is that this year, for the first time, we have a

brand new car to auction off. It's a 1985 Toyota, valued at $13,000.'' (PESO raises money for cultural groups. The acronym stands for Participation Enriches Science, Music and Art Organizations.)

Listening to his spiel, one wonders why this man, after a long and fruitful business career, gets so entrenched in charitable projects, including fund-raising work for United Way.

''I do it,'' he said, ''because I've been so successful, so lucky, that I wanted to give something back to the community.''

He has much to be thankful for, he said. At the top of the list is Mary, his wife of 43 years, and their seven children.

Lupo's father, the late Joseph V. Lupo, established Fidelity Moving & Storage in 1911, and in their peak years they had 28 warehouses, in New Jersey, North Carolina and Florida.

''Then we came down the line, started selling off,'' Tony Lupo said. ''We'd leave cold, bleak New Jersey and come to Florida once a week. It was so nice here -- the windows were open and you could hear the birds -- that we decided to move here and go to New Jersey once a week.''

They became Winter Park residents in 1973.

The climate here is also ideal for the sturdy, lithe Lupo's tennis game. With a wink he suggests that players 20 years his junior quake when they see him on the other aide of the net.

All right, then, here's the PESO pitch: Hundreds of items (toys, tools, exotic vacations, etc.) will go on the auction block under the bleatings of celebrity auctioneers from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday at Expo Centre. Family entertainment is scheduled throughout the afternoon.

''We chose Expo Centre in downtown Orlando for the PESO auction this year because of its easy accessibility,'' Lupo said. ''There's plenty of parking space.''

Admission is $1 per person and $2 for families. The four-hour, big-item TV auction that starts at 7 p.m. on WMFE-Channel 9 will originate from the same location.

Mrs. Leone Schacht of Orlando is getting ready to celebrate her 90th birthday Wednesday. Formerly president of Sorosis and the Women's Committee of the Florida Symphony Orchestra, she has been very active in civic and cultural matters, and is widely known in bridge circles as a teacher and player. She once taught bridge to people undergoing mental rehabilitation. To you, Mrs. Schacht, a warm Hushpuppies Hug!

ly president of Sorosis and the Women's Committee of the Florida Symphony Orchestra, she has been very active in civic and cultural matters, and is widely known in bridge circles as a teacher and player. She once taught bridge to people undergoing mental rehabilitation. To you, Mrs. Schacht, a warm Hushpuppies Hug!

Sour root stock: That new parlor quiz game for opera buffs is sweeping the country. Well, it's sweeping the parlor at my house, anyway. It's called La Triviata.